July 20 As the season progresses singing activity falls and flocking increases, larger flocks seen as birds assemble after breeding. This we are seeing most in the bee-eaters, hooded crows and jackdaws.
Blackbird song and turtle dove coos hardly at all in last few days though bulbuls now getting more vocal. Seems the wheatears and cuckoos have moved on mostly and swifts long gone, no more sightings. Cicadas and graceful warblers seem to be getting more active in the heat. Time for butterflies now past but more grasshoppers around and plenty black millipedes, ants and numerous red and black plant bugs which look a little creepy but are harmless.
Blackbird song and turtle dove coos hardly at all in last few days though bulbuls now getting more vocal. Seems the wheatears and cuckoos have moved on mostly and swifts long gone, no more sightings. Cicadas and graceful warblers seem to be getting more active in the heat. Time for butterflies now past but more grasshoppers around and plenty black millipedes, ants and numerous red and black plant bugs which look a little creepy but are harmless.
5-6 p.m. 30.9 degrees C, humidity 25% and rising, wind NW 14.8 kt (wind recording taken west Jerusalem but felt considerably lower where we are)
Gazelles - 3 looked like the east field group.. mom, well grown young and individual with thin horns. Grazing near pomegranate tree by cistern, then moved back to meadow nw gazelle field. Horned individual stayed to graze there, mom headed north west up goat track up hill, young one following some way behind. Tracks found in sandy dust path near pumping station. (far south end of their range as far as we know)
hyrax, some out , some activity
Turtle doves: again, no coos, 1 on ground by cistern, nice to see they're still around
Bee-eaters: some calls
House sparrows: gardens, pumping station, by bridge over dry creek
Senegal doves: street as usual
Hooded crows: calls and individuals around and over valley
Jackdaws: calls from east
Jays: some calls, foraging in woods and on field
Feral pigeons: on buildings, overhead
Greenfinches: twittering, family groups busy in pines near bunker
Blackbirds: alarm heard east up slopes creek path
Chukars: calls from north valley
Collared doves: in flight over gazelle field
Sunbirds: garden, creek path
Graceful warblers: many active, foraging, calling, singing, most active birds seen and heard today
Syrian woodpeckers: calls, active, foraging in woods
Bulbuls: active, calling, foraging along valley road
July 21:
Lazy Senegal dove! They are always picking at the sidewalk looking for any crumbs, usually in pairs, some singly. If you approach they seldom fly away.. at most they walk a little faster. One we watched today stepped down into the road at our approach and simply walked a semi circle till he was back on the sidewalk behind us.
I'm British so I'm used to calling a sidewalk a pavement. Husband (American) pointed out that our local sidewalks aren't made from paving stones but bricks laid out in a herringbone pattern. What is it then, a brickment? I'll call it a sidewalk then for the American readers;)
Turtle doves and collared doves at the cistern. They do seem to be the thirstiest birds and need the cistern most. Jays next probably. Many local birds we've yet to see drink at all. Degree of adaptation to arid climate.. also diet makes a difference. If you eat insects you get more moisture than if you eat grass seeds and doves usually eat the latter. Brief turtle dove cooing about 7.45 p.m. all we heard in last few days. Bee-eater flock in excess of 70 birds.
No gazelle. Foraging great tits in small scrubby trees central forest, some hoopoes foraging on dirt trails, stone curlew calls. Again, no blackbird song but still plenty greenfinch song and family activity. Syrian woodpeckers, graceful warblers, jays, hooded crows, senegal doves all active, foraging and vocal.
Lazy Senegal dove! They are always picking at the sidewalk looking for any crumbs, usually in pairs, some singly. If you approach they seldom fly away.. at most they walk a little faster. One we watched today stepped down into the road at our approach and simply walked a semi circle till he was back on the sidewalk behind us.
I'm British so I'm used to calling a sidewalk a pavement. Husband (American) pointed out that our local sidewalks aren't made from paving stones but bricks laid out in a herringbone pattern. What is it then, a brickment? I'll call it a sidewalk then for the American readers;)
Turtle doves and collared doves at the cistern. They do seem to be the thirstiest birds and need the cistern most. Jays next probably. Many local birds we've yet to see drink at all. Degree of adaptation to arid climate.. also diet makes a difference. If you eat insects you get more moisture than if you eat grass seeds and doves usually eat the latter. Brief turtle dove cooing about 7.45 p.m. all we heard in last few days. Bee-eater flock in excess of 70 birds.
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